England’s former defender Stuart Pearce once described taking part in a penalty shootout as: “All you need to do is walk fifty yards, take a penalty and score. That’s the worst part of it, that bloody walk from the halfway line. Why do they make you there, so far away? God only knows which masochist decided that. It is clearly someone who has never been in this nerve-jangling position because it heightens the tension to an unbelievable degree.”
Pearce was one of the two England players who missed a penalty during the Three Lions’ 4-3 penalty shootout against West Germany in the semifinals of the 1990 Fifa World Cup. The other player was Chris Waddle.
That Pearce ranks walking to take a penalty in a shootout worse than missing one, perhaps puts into context Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy saluting the bravery of the five players – all defenders – who took a penalty for Kenya during their 4-3 penalty shootout loss to Madagascar in their Chan 2024 quarterfinal match played at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on Friday.
Kenya's Alpha Onyango (left) vies for an aerial ball with Jean Luc of Madagascar during the 2024 Africa Nations Championship quarter-finals match at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
The match ended 1-1 after regulation and extra-time. Alphonse Omija gave Harambee Stars the lead in the 48th minute, but Madagascar drew level in the 69th minute from a penalty converted by Fenohasina Razafimaro.
Pearce’s words – and McCarthy’s saluting the bravery of Omija, Daniel Sakari, Mike Kibwage, Mohammed Siraj, and Sylvester Owino – contextualise the psychological battles that characterise penalty shootouts.
Like Pearce and Waddle for England at the 1990 Fifa World Cup, Kibwage and Omija succumbed to pressure as their misses ended up sealing Harambee Stars’ fate against Madagascar.
Yet, it is not just the two central defenders who were overwhelmed by the occasion. If at all Harambee Stars had prepared for penalties, their behaviour showed otherwise.
Harambee Stars’ participation in that penalty shootout was preceded by a lengthy deliberation, presumably discussing their strategy for the 12-yard lottery. During the post-match press conference, McCarthy hinted at the technical bench asking players to volunteer to take penalties.
McCarthy’s comments further suggested that Harambee Stars’ attackers – Austin Odongo, Edward Omondi, and Masoud Juma – had shied away from responsibility.
“I don’t force people to take penalties. The players that took penalties were the brave ones. You must ask the ones who never took why they didn’t take penalties,” the South African said after the match.
On the contrary, Madagascar’s approach to the shootout involved their physios first attending to the players who had completed the match to prepare them for the task ahead. After that, the ‘Barea’ squad formed a huddle and fervently recited a prayer.
Harambee Stars captain Abud Omar (right) with goalkeeper Byrne Omondi during the 2024 Africa Nations Championship quarter-finals match between Kenyan and Madagascar at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
By the time the Harambee Stars squad concluded their discussion, Madagascar’s 10 outfield players had already taken their position at the centre circle.
The end of the pitch used for the penalty shootout could have also given Madagascar a psychological boost and doomed Kenya’s prospects even before a kick was taken. It was where Razafimaro had scored in to equalise for the ‘Barea’ during regulation time.
Also, only one Harambee Stars player – Austine Odhiambo against DR Congo and Angola – had scored in that goal. Odhiambo, an attacking midfielder, was left on the bench for reasons McCarthy had described as “tactical”.
McCarthy’s substitutions also led to Harambee Stars completing the match with only three attacking players, hence creating another factor that could have handicapped Kenya in the shootout.
Further, the end of the pitch was close to the legion of Madagascar fans who attended the match to support their compatriots. The importance of their proximity to the action was emphasised when Madagascar’s veteran goalkeeper Michel Ramandimbisoa walked towards them shortly before the shootout to acknowledge and appreciate them.
When the shootout started, the difference in demeanour between Harambee Stars’ goalkeeper Byrne Omondi and Ramandimbisoa was like night and day.
While both goalkeepers saved one kick apiece, Omondi disadvantaged himself by standing several inches before the goal line before the ball was kicked towards him. Therefore, he ended up increasing the distance between himself and the kickers. It is an action that suggested either he feared the kickers or he was overly cautious in his efforts to adhere to the rules requiring goalkeepers to stay on their line during penalty shoot.
A dejected Bryne Omondi reacts after Kenya lost to Madagascar on penalties in the quarter finals of the 2024 African Nations Championships at Moi Internationals Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
In a way, it also showed his hesitation to take risks. His standing position also ended up denying him an opportunity to use his imposing frame to intimidate and unsettle kickers. Also, it reduced the reach of his dive when he lunged forward to try to make a save. Further, it made it easy for the Madagascar kickers, particularly their last three takers, to predict his movements.
On the contrary, Ramandimbisoa acted every single day of his 39 years. He exuded calm and stoicism. He showed no emotions when Madagascar converted an attempt or when Heriniaina Randrianirina had his kick saved by Omondi.
Other than during Madagascar’s first and final kick, Ramandimbisoa stood akimbo at the spot designated by the referee. Before his captain Nantenaina Randriamanampisoa took Madagascar’s first kick, Ramandimbisoa stretched out his palms and said a prayer for him.
When Toky Rakotondraibe stepped up to take his team’s last kick, Ramandimbisoa knelt and said a prayer for him too. His prayers were answered on both occasions.
Also, he neither approached his four successful teammates nor consoled the unlucky Randrianirina. His teammates also did not approach him to share a word of encouragement, indicating that Madagascar had purposed to move on quickly after every penalty.
On the other hand, Omondi was a bundle of nerves. He was pacing around his spot at the edge of the box as his teammates took their kicks. He celebrated the successful attempts by Siraj, Sakari, and Owino and held his head in anguish after Kibwage missed Kenya’s fourth kick.
When Omija stepped up to take his last kick, Omondi moved away from the edge of the box and stood closer to the corner flag. He could not bear to look. He covered his eyes. When he uncovered them, Kenya was out of the competition.
Omondi also went out of his way to interact with his teammates during the shootout. He rushed to congratulate them or, in Kibwage’s case, to console him. In a way, that gave him little time to transition to his primary role and focus on the Malagasy kickers.
Harambee Stars players react after losing 4-3 on penalties to Madagascar in the quarter finals of the 2024 African Nations Championship at Moi Internationals Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
Among the kickers, nervousness showed in Harambee Stars’ last four kickers – Sakari, Owino, Kibwage, and Omija. They took at least nine seconds to take their penalties after hearing the whistle. Siraj, who took Kenya’s first penalty, took five seconds to dispatch his kick.
Sakari, who went after Omondi had saved Madagascar’s second penalty, made the most of his 13-second wait, expertly finding the top left corner with a powerful drive.
Owino’s nine-second wait was also successful but it was not the same for Kibwage. Kibwage had done the sign of the cross before placing the ball on the spot and repeated the action before starting his run up. His intercession failed and Ramandimbisoa saved his attempt.
Omija’s nerves showed in him kissing the ball before placing it on the spot. The ball betrayed him by going wide after an 11-second wait.
Randrianirina, the only player to miss for Madagascar, also showed that waiting too long to take a penalty increases chances of missing. He took his kick nine seconds after the whistle, the longest duration among Madagascar’s five takers.
On average, Madagascar players took their kicks 6.8 seconds after the whistle, perhaps demonstrating their confidence and reduced tension. On the other hand, Harambee Stars players had an average wait time of 9.4 seconds, hinting at nervousness and overthinking.
At the centre circle, Harambee Stars and Madagascar players behaved much in the same way. They showed unity in how they reintegrate the kickers back into the group, either consoling them or congratulating them. They did this by breaking their lines and approaching their returning teammates with hugs and high fives.
Yet, Madagascar players appeared more religious than Harambee Stars players. Following Randrianirina’s miss, several players dropped to their knees and prayed until the shootout ended. Harambee Stars players, arms over shoulders, remained on their feet, before they eventually fell.
